Jan Kopecky’s preparations for the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge have been disrupted significantly as his regular co-driver Petr Stary has been ruled out of the event.
Stary has been sidelined through illness, meaning that Kopecky, who leads his Skoda team-mate Juho Hanninen by six points heading into the Cyprus Rally, will instead be co-driven by Pavel Dresler.
“It will be a bit complicated because my Petr cannot start with me in Cyprus,” said Kopecky. “He got some illness which does not allow him to be with me.
“I will start with Pavel Dresler, who has good experience but it will be first time for him in IRC and the first time with me. It’s a big challenge but of course I will try to win.”
Czech driver Kopecky is one of five drivers battling for the title on the Cyprus event, which starts on Thursday night. The others are Hanninen, Thierry Neuville, Andreas Mikkelsen and Freddy Loix. Bryan Bouffier also has a mathematical chance of the crown, but is not taking part in Cyprus.
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